font/graphics differences PC vs Mac

>
>Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 08:59:28 -0500
>From: Chris Luciano <cluciano(at)total.net>
>Subject: MAC users needed for graphic advice!!!

First of all: Thanks for even worrying about us Mac users  :)
Honestly, since the PC majority is so overwhelming, PC based web 
designers hardly seem to consider  platform differences at all!

>
>I recently took a look at this page on a MAC and was horrified.
>http://imgt-03.humberc.on.ca/luciano/test
-----------> unable to view page 404 error

>
>2. Why are there differences between the two platforms when it comes to
>graphics?

Font size rendering and monitor gamma.

The easiest solution for the font size problem is to substitute px 
(pixel) for pt (point) in your css files.
This leads to virtually identical rendering on both platforms, at 
least with the modern browsers.
A size of 12px, for example, covers both sides very well.

Relative sizes also work reasonably well, since some Mac browsers - 
like IE4+ - offer fonts size adjustment *on-the-fly* right in the 
tool bar. As you can imagine, I use that one frequently, since PC 
base sizes render about 30 percent smaller on the Mac and some PC 
designed sites are just too hard for me to read.

The gamma problem (Mac = 1.8  vs  PC =2.5) stems from the fact that 
PC monitors evolved from TVs while Macs were designed for graphics 
right from the start. I make my graphics appear just a little *washed 
out* on my Mac, which tends to be fine on the PC. A medium gamma of 
2.2 seems to work well for both sides.
As a rule, it is probably less disturbing for a Mac viewer to 
encounter some light graphics than for a PC viewer to have graphics 
all blocked out  and contrasty - so, as long as they are correct to 
your eyes, they'll probably still be acceptable on the Mac.

>3. Is there a utility out there that will allow me to simulate how my
>page will look on a MAC platform for testing purposes?

On the Mac, one can adjust the monitor's gamma settings to preview 
the effects. On the PC you're basically stuck with the *factory 
setting*. Also, I can use VirtualPC , which allows me to preview the 
sites on actual PC browsers.
Several wysiwyg html editors - like GoLive from Adobe - offer a means 
to make cross-platform comparisons. Not sure whether this feature  is 
included with PC versions.

ciao!

eckhard behme

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